All terrain vehicle

ABSTRACT

An amphibious vehicle of the type including opposite side endless track assemblies. The vehicle includes a main central body portion which extends longitudinally of the vehicle and defines a hollow elongated sealed flotation compartment above which the operator&#39;&#39;s position and driving motor of the vehicle may be disposed. The vehicle further includes opposite side laterally outwardly projecting and elongated generally horizontally disposed stub wing-type housings which are also sealed and define opposite side flotation compartments. The opposite side tracks of the vehicle encircle and are for the most part supported from the opposite side housings on either side of the main body portion and the endless tracks are trained about drive and idle sprocket wheels disposed at corresponding ends of the tracks spaced endwise outwardly of the corresponding ends of the opposite side housings. The combined buoyancy of the main body portion flotation compartment and the opposite side flotation compartments is sufficient to float the vehicle with an operator thereon with the water level disposed at least slightly below the upper extremities of the opposite side flotation compartments whereby the vehicle, when floating, will have resistance to rolling about its longitudinal axis.

United States Patent 1191 Brusacoram Sept. 25, 1973 ALL TERRAIN VEHICLEAlbert V. Brusacoram, 27 NE. 1 1th St., Chisholm, Minn. 55719 [22]Filed: Feb. 26, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 119,229

[76] Inventor:

Primary Examiner-Milton Buchler Assistant Examiner-E. R. Kazenske A.OBrien and Harvey B.

Att0rneyClarence Jacobson [57] ABSTRACT An amphibious vehicle of thetype including opposite side endless track assemblies. The vehicleincludes a main central body portion which extends longitudinally of thevehicle and defines a hollow elongated sealed flotation compartmentabove which the operator's position and driving motor of the vehicle maybe disposed. The vehicle further includes opposite side laterallyoutwardly projecting and elongated generally horizontally disposed stubwing-type housings which are also sealed and define opposite sideflotation compartments. The opposite side tracks of the vehicle encircleand are for the most part supported from the opposite side housings oneither side of the main body portion and the endless tracks are trainedabout drive and idle sprocket wheels disposed at corresponding ends ofthe tracks spaced endwise outwardly of the corresponding ends of theopposite side housings. The combined buoyancy of the main body portionflotation compartment and the opposite side flotation compartments issufi'icient to float the vehicle with an operator thereon with the waterlevel disposed at least slightly below the upper extremities of theopposite side flotation compartments whereby the vehicle, when floating,will have resistance to rolling about its longitudinal axis.

6 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures Pmmin'sivzsms 3,760,763

sum 2 n: 3

Albert V. Brusacoram [NI-"ENTOA. v

ALL TERRAIN VEHICLE The all terrain vehicle of the instant invention hasbeen specifically designed to provide an apparatus which may be riddenover all types of terrain and which may/ also be utilized to travel overthe surface of a body of water. Propulsion of the vehicle while movingover the surface of a body of water is accomplished by the endless trackcomponents provided on opposite sides of the vehicle'having a paddlewheel type action on the water upon which the vehicle is floated. Thedriving components including the endless track assemblies, the motor andthe various shafts for drivingly connecting the output shaft of themotor to the drive sprockets for the endless track assemblies areallexposed exteriorly of the various'flotation compartments and thus theflotation compartments are maintained air and water-tight without theutilization of complex water and airtight seals. Of course, steerage ofthe vehicle on water is accomplished in the same manner as when thevehicle is traveling on land in that selected endless track assembliesmay be driven either forward or in reverse or braked, as desired.

The main object of this invention is to provide an all terrain vehiclethat may be readily operated over various types of terrain and over thesurface of a body of water as well.

Another object of this invention, in accordance with the immediatelypreceding object, is to provide a vehicle whose controls enable thevehicle to be steered on water in the same manner in which steeringoperations are accomplished on land. A

Yet another object of this invention is to provide an all terrainvehicle of the amphibious type provided with center and opposite sideflotation compartments disposed in relation to the driving components ofthe vehicle in a manner such that complex air and water-tight seals neednot be utilized in connection with the drive train of the vehicle. 1

A final'object of this invention to be specifically enumerated herein isto provide an all terrain vehicle in accordance with the precedingobjects which will conform to conventional forms of manufacture, be ofsimple construction and easy to use so as to provide a device that willbe economically feasible, long lasting and relatively trouble free inoperation.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation. as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the all terrain vehicle;

F IG. 2 is an enlarged side elevational view of the vehicle; I

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary transverse vertical sectional view takensubstantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 3 -3 of FIG.2;

FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of the vehicle with its drive componentsremoved;

FIG. 5 isa top plan view of one of the spring mounted double bogie wheelassemblies of the vehicle;

FIG.'6 is a perspective view of one of the bogie wheel spring mountingbrackets; and

FIGS. 7'through 9 are side elevational views of the vehicle illustratingthe manner in which the lower reaches of the endless track membersthereof may be deflected along with the attendant bogie wheels forconforming to irregular surfaces.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings the numeral 10 generallydesignates the all terrain vehicle of the instant invention. The vehicle10 includes a main longitudinally extending body referred to in generalby the reference numeral 12 and including a lower fully enclosed andfluid tight sealed housing portion 14 defining a center buoyancy tank.The body 12 also includes a pair of opposite side longitudinallyextending and generally horizontally disposed side housing portions 16defining opposite side flotation tanks or compartments. The housingportion 14 includes top and bottom walls 18 and 20 interconnected bymeans of upstanding opposite side walls 22 and front and rear walls 24and 26. The housings 16 each includes top and bottom walls 28 and 30interconnected by an outerside wall 32 and at their opposite ends bymeans of front and rear walls 34 and 36. The inner sides of the housings16 are closed by the corresponding side walls 22 of the housing portion14 from which the top and bottom walls 28 and 30 and the end walls 34qnd 36 are supported along their inner marginal edge portions. Ifdesired, front and rear transverse braces 38 may be secured through thehousing portion 14 in sealed relation with the side walls 22 thereof andin the housings 16.

The vehicle 10 includes a forward engine housing or shroud 40 comprisinga part of the body 12 and in which an engine 42 and a clutch mechanism44 are disposed. The engine 42 drives the clutch mechanism 44 through anendless belt 46 and the clutch mechanism drives the input shaft of atransmission (not shown) whose output shaft 48 is drivingly connected tothe front opposite side driving shafts 50 of the vehicle 10 by means ofendless flexible drive members 52.

The rear portion of the body 12 includes a hollow storage compartment 54upon which a seat cushion 56 is mounted and the vehicle 10 includessuitable controls (notshown) for selectively driving and braking theopposite side endless track assemblies to be set forth more fullyhereinafter drivenby the drive shafts 50.

The opposite ends of the housings 16 include front and rear extensions'58 and 60 of the side walls 32 which project forward and rearward ofthe corresponding front and rear walls 34 and 36. The opposite sidedrive shafts have their outer ends rotatably received in bearingjournals 62 supported from the extensions 58 and their inner endsrotatably-supported in similar journals (not shown) carried by theopposing outer surface portions of the side walls 22. In addition, theouter ends of a similar pair of rear idler shafts 64 are rotatablyreceived in bearing journals 66 supported from the extensions 60 andtheir inner ends are rotatably received in similar bearing journals (notshown) supported from the opposing outer surface portions of the sidewalls 22.

A pair of laterally spaced guide rods 68 are supported in slightlyforward upwardly inclined relation above and from each of the upperwalls 28 with the front and rear ends of the guide rods 68 curveddownwardly and secured to the upper or top wall 28 as at 70 and 72.Also, the bottom wall 30 of each of the housings 16 includes a pair oflaterally spaced longitudinally extending' and downwardly projectingguard flanges 74 between whose mid-portions a pair of mounting bracketsreferred to in general by the reference numeral 76 are secured. Eachmounting bracket includes an upwardly opening longitudinally extendingchannel 78 provided with upper oppositely and outwardly directedhorizontal mounting flange portions 80 by which the mounting brackets 76are secured to the undersurfaces of the bottom walls. Each of thechannel members 78 includes a pair of opposite side depending retainingflanges 82, whose opposite ends project endwise outwardly of thecorresponding ends 84 of the bight portion of the channel members 78 andcorresponding ends of the retaining flanges 82 have a retaining bar 86secured therebetween and are spaced slightly outwardly of thecorresponding end of the channel mem bers 78. A pair of invertedU-shaped fasteners or bolts 88 are engaged over corresponding ends ofthe flanges 82 between the associated bar 85 and the adjacent end of thechannel member 78 and are utilized to secure a clamping plate 90 to themounting bracket 76, the midportion of a leaf spring assembly generallyreferred to by the reference numeral 92 is disposed between each pair ofretaining flanges 82 and clamped between the opposing surfaces of thecorresponding bight portion 84 and plate 90.

The oppositeends of each of the leaf spring assemblies 92 definejournals 94 through which fasteners 96 are rotatably secured in order tooscillatably fasten a pair of bogie wheel assemblies generally referredby the reference numerals 98 to the leaf spring ends. The bogie wheelassemblies 98 are identical but the rear assemblies 98 are reversedfront-to-rear in relation to the front bogie wheel assemblies. Eachbogie wheel assembly includes a longitudinal support beam 100 providedwith opposite end transverse axle assembies 102 on whose opposite endsbogie wheels 104 are journaled. The support beams 100 each includesmounting brackets 106 through which the corresponding fastener 96 issecured for oscillatably anchoring each support beam 100 to thecorresponding leaf spring assembly end.

An endless flexible track or belt 108 including longitudinally spacedapertures 110 is trained about a toothed drive sprocket 112 mounted onthe drive shaft 50 and a toothed sprocket 114 mounted on thecorresponding idler shaft 64. The belt 108 is also trained beneath thebogie wheels 104. The teeth on the sprocket wheels 112 are projectablethrough the openings 110 in the belts and thereby establish a driveconnection between the drive shafts 50 and the belts 108. Accordingly,the vehicle may be propelled over the ground. Of course, the vehicle 10may be provided with any suitable controls (not shown) for selectivelydriving or braking the shafts 50 whereby steerage of the vehicle 10 maybe accomplished. Further, the outer surfaces of the belts 108 includetransverse cleats 118 and the vehicle 10, when buoyed upon a body ofwater by the flotation or buoyancy tanks 14 and 16, may therefore bedriven over the body of water with the cleats 118 acting as paddles.

If it is desired, the inner ends of the shafts 50 may project into thehousing portion 14 in order that the endless drive members 52 drivinglycoupling the transmission output shaft portions 48 to the drive shafts50 may be enclosed within the housing portion 14. However, in this eventthe housing portion 14 may be constructed so as to exclude thoseinternal portions of the housing portion 14 occupied by the inner endsof the drive shafts 50 and the lower portions of the drive members 52from the sealed flotation compartment defined in the housing portion 14so as to eliminate the need for fluid tight seals about the inner endsof those portions of the drive shafts 50 projecting through the sidewalls 22 of the housing portion 14.

With attention now invited more specifically to FIGS. 7 through 9 of thedrawings, it may be seen from FIG. 7 of the drawings that when thevehicle 10 is cresting a rise and little weight of the vehicle 10 issupported from the endless track members 108, the novel bogie wheelassemblies 98 and the manner in which they are supported from the leafspring assemblies 92 enables the endless track 108 to be maintainedproperly tensioned. The adjacent ends of each pair of support beamsswing downwardly so as to take up the slack in the endless flexible belt108. Also, in FIG. 8 of the drawings it may be seen that the normalpower on attitude of the vehicle 10 is in a slightly forwardly andupwardly inclined position inasmuch as the endless track members 108 aredriven from the forward drive sprockets 112 and therefore that the frontbogie wheel assemblies 98 are supported from less tensioned forward endsof the spring assemblies 92 than the slightly more tensioned rear endportions of the spring assemblies 92. However, with attention nowinvited more specifically to FIG. 9, it may be seen that the vehicle 10is fully capable of riding smoothly over rough terrain and that thenovel bogie wheel assemblies and the manner in which they are supportedfrom the corresponding leaf spring assemblies 92 enables the endlesstrack members 108 to readily conform to substantially any terrainirregularities with the endless track members 108 maintained intensioned condition.

With this particular spring suspension assembly of the wheel assemblies98, the endless tracks or belts 108 are retained in properly tensionedcondition by the selftensioning spring 92 without further adjustmentthus overcoming an existent problem of the tracks or belts becomingloose.

From FIGS. 2 and 3 of the drawings it will be noted that the oppositeside portions of the body 12 include horizontally outwardly directedrunning board portions 120 disposed on opposite sides of the body 12 andwhich are spaced slightly above the upper reaches of the endless trackmembers 108 which in turn are slightly spaced above the upper surfacesof the guide rods 68. The running boards or running board assemblies 120are securely anchored to the opposite side walls 22 of the housingportion 14 and extend to the forward end of the vehicle 10 outwardly ofthe opposite sides of the shroud 40. Further, the forward ends of therunning board portions 120 are interconnected by means of a forwardtransverse ledge 122.

It will be noted that the combined flotation afforded by the flotationtanks or compartments l4 and 16 enable the vehicle 10, with an operatoraboard, to float on the surface of a body of water with the water levellying between the upper and lower walls 28 and 30 of the opposite sideflotation tanks 16. In this manner, the vehicle 10 when floating, willstrongly resist rolling about its longitudinal axis.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. An amphibious vehicle including a central longitudinal body having abuoyant lower portion, a pair of opposite side generally horizontal andlongitudinally extending buoyant bodies supported on opposite sides ofsaid buoyant lower portion, said vehicle including drivable oppositeside members supported from said opposite side bodies with the latterextending laterally of a substantial portion of the width of saidmembers, the combined buoyancy of said buoyant lower portion and saidbuoyant bodies being sufficient to float said vehicle and at least anoperator supported therefrom on a body of water, said opposite sidebodies including front and rear endwise outwardly projecting extensions,a pair of transverse horizontal drive shafts journaled from said frontextensions and a pair of transverse horizontal idle shafts journaledfrom said rear extensions, a drive wheel mounted on each of said driveshafts for rotation therewith and an idle wheel mounted on each of saididle shafts, said members including endless track members trained aboutsaid drive and idle wheels with the upper and lower reaches of saidendless track members disposed above and below, respectively, thecorresponding opposite side buoyant bodies, said opposite side buoyantbodies including generally horizontal upper wall portions extendinglongitudinally thereof, a pair of guide and support rods for each ofsaid upper walls and extending longitudinally thereof in positionsslightly spaced above said upper walls and spaced apart transversely ofsaid vehicle, the opposite ends of each pair of said guide rods beingcurved downwardly and anchored to the corresponding upper wall, theupper surfaces of said rods being disposed for engagement by the innersurface portions of the upper reaches of said endless track members.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said track members include outersurface transversely extending members for operation as paddles topropel said vehicle' when the latter is operated on a body of water.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein each of said side buoyant bodiesincludes a single longitudinally extending, upwardly convex leaf springassembly supported in depending relation thereto, a pair of elongatedsupport bars extending longitudinally of the opposite ends of each leafspring assembly for pivotal movement about horizontal transverse axes,and bogie wheels journaled from the opposite ends of each of saidsupport bars and rollingly engaged with the inner surfaces of the lowerreach of the corresponding endless track member, the point of attachmentbetwen the support bars and ends of the spring assembly being off-settoward the outer ends of the support bars, said bogie wheels beingdisposed below and longitudinally inwardly of the drive and idle wheelswhereby the end portions of the lower reach of the track members areinclined upwardly with only the bogie wheels supporting the portion ofthe lower reach of the track members in engagement with the terrain withboth the drive and idle wheels being continuously disposed above theterrain.

4. The combination of claim 1 wherein said buoyant lower portion of thecentral body and opposite side buoyant bodies being hollow and isolatedfrom each other and completely sealed, said drive shafts and idle shaftsand the drive wheels and idle wheels and track members being disposedcompletely exteriorly of the isolated and sealed buoyant bodies.

5. An endless track assembly for use in supporting an all terrainvehicle comprising an endless flexible track member, rotatable supportmembers spaced longitudinally of the track member with the track memberbeing entrained over the rotatable support members to define alongitudinally extending lower run on the track member to engage asurface being traversed, independent front and rear bogie wheelassemblies engaging the inner surface of the lower run of the trackmember, said bogie wheel assembies being disposed below the rotatablesupport members with the endmost bogie wheels on the bogie wheelassemblies being disposed longitudinally inwardly of the rotatablesupport members whereby the end portions of the lower run of the trackmember are inclined upwardly and both rotatable support members arespaced away from the supporting terrain with only the bogie wheelassemblies contacting that part of the track member in engagement withthe terrain, a bowed leaf spring assembly interconnecting the bogiewheel assemblies and including an upwardly curved central portion, andmeans adapted to support the central portion of the leaf spring assemblyfrom the vehicle for self-tensioning the track member and maintainingtension thereon without further adjustment, said means adapted tosupport the leaf spring assembly including a longitudinal support membersupporting said rotatable support member, an elongated guiding andsupporting rod mounted on said longitudinal support member and disposedfor engagement by the inner surface portions of the upper run of theflexible track member extending between the rotatable support members,said rod having the opposite ends thereof curved downwardly to supportand guide movement of the upper run of the track member.

6. The combination of claim SWherein each bogie wheel assembly includesa longitudinally extending support bar having at least one bogie wheeljournaled at each end thereof and engaging the inner surface of thetrack member with the outermost bogie wheels defining that portion ofthe endless track member engaging the terrain, said support bars beingpivotally connected to the ends of the bowed leaf spring assembly forpivotal movement about transverse axes, the point of connection betweenthe support bars and the ends of the bowed leaf spring assembly beingoffset towards the outermost bogie wheels whereby the bowed leaf springassembly will maintain tension on the endless track member and retainsuch tension without further adjustment and eliminate the use of asupporting assembly between the forwardmost bogie wheel and the forwardrotatable support member for the endless track member.

1. An amphibious vehicle including a central longitudinal body having abuoyant lower portion, a pair of opposite side generally horizontal andlongitudinally extending buoyant bodies supported on opposite sides ofsaid buoyant lower portion, said vehicle including drivable oppositeside members supported from said opposite side bodies with the latterextending lateralLy of a substantial portion of the width of saidmembers, the combined buoyancy of said buoyant lower portion and saidbuoyant bodies being sufficient to float said vehicle and at least anoperator supported therefrom on a body of water, said opposite sidebodies including front and rear endwise outwardly projecting extensions,a pair of transverse horizontal drive shafts journaled from said frontextensions and a pair of transverse horizontal idle shafts journaledfrom said rear extensions, a drive wheel mounted on each of said driveshafts for rotation therewith and an idle wheel mounted on each of saididle shafts, said members including endless track members trained aboutsaid drive and idle wheels with the upper and lower reaches of saidendless track members disposed above and below, respectively, thecorresponding opposite side buoyant bodies, said opposite side buoyantbodies including generally horizontal upper wall portions extendinglongitudinally thereof, a pair of guide and support rods for each ofsaid upper walls and extending longitudinally thereof in positionsslightly spaced above said upper walls and spaced apart transversely ofsaid vehicle, the opposite ends of each pair of said guide rods beingcurved downwardly and anchored to the corresponding upper wall, theupper surfaces of said rods being disposed for engagement by the innersurface portions of the upper reaches of said endless track members. 2.The combination of claim 1 wherein said track members include outersurface transversely extending members for operation as paddles topropel said vehicle when the latter is operated on a body of water. 3.The combination of claim 1 wherein each of said side buoyant bodiesincludes a single longitudinally extending, upwardly convex leaf springassembly supported in depending relation thereto, a pair of elongatedsupport bars extending longitudinally of the opposite ends of each leafspring assembly for pivotal movement about horizontal transverse axes,and bogie wheels journaled from the opposite ends of each of saidsupport bars and rollingly engaged with the inner surfaces of the lowerreach of the corresponding endless track member, the point of attachmentbetween the support bars and ends of the spring assembly being off-settoward the outer ends of the support bars, said bogie wheels beingdisposed below and longitudinally inwardly of the drive and idle wheelswhereby the end portions of the lower reach of the track members areinclined upwardly with only the bogie wheels supporting the portion ofthe lower reach of the track members in engagement with the terrain withboth the drive and idle wheels being continuously disposed above theterrain.
 4. The combination of claim 1 wherein said buoyant lowerportion of the central body and opposite side buoyant bodies beinghollow and isolated from each other and completely sealed, said driveshafts and idle shafts and the drive wheels and idle wheels and trackmembers being disposed completely exteriorly of the isolated and sealedbuoyant bodies.
 5. An endless track assembly for use in supporting anall terrain vehicle comprising an endless flexible track member,rotatable support members spaced longitudinally of the track member withthe track member being entrained over the rotatable support members todefine a longitudinally extending lower run on the track member toengage a surface being traversed, independent front and rear bogie wheelassemblies engaging the inner surface of the lower run of the trackmember, said bogie wheel assemblies being disposed below the rotatablesupport members with the endmost bogie wheels on the bogie wheelassemblies being disposed longitudinally inwardly of the rotatablesupport members whereby the end portions of the lower run of the trackmember are inclined upwardly and both rotatable support members arespaced away from the supporting terrain with only the bogie wheelassemblies contacting that part of the track member in engagement withthe terrain, a bowed leaF spring assembly interconnecting the bogiewheel assemblies and including an upwardly curved central portion, andmeans adapted to support the central portion of the leaf spring assemblyfrom the vehicle for self-tensioning the track member and maintainingtension thereon without further adjustment, said means adapted tosupport the leaf spring assembly including a longitudinal support membersupporting said rotatable support member, an elongated guiding andsupporting rod mounted on said longitudinal support member and disposedfor engagement by the inner surface portions of the upper run of theflexible track member extending between the rotatable support members,said rod having the opposite ends thereof curved downwardly to supportand guide movement of the upper run of the track member.
 6. Thecombination of claim 5 wherein each bogie wheel assembly includes alongitudinally extending support bar having at least one bogie wheeljournaled at each end thereof and engaging the inner surface of thetrack member with the outermost bogie wheels defining that portion ofthe endless track member engaging the terrain, said support bars beingpivotally connected to the ends of the bowed leaf spring assembly forpivotal movement about transverse axes, the point of connection betweenthe support bars and the ends of the bowed leaf spring assembly beingoffset towards the outermost bogie wheels whereby the bowed leaf springassembly will maintain tension on the endless track member and retainsuch tension without further adjustment and eliminate the use of asupporting assembly between the forwardmost bogie wheel and the forwardrotatable support member for the endless track member.